Dear James,
Excuse using of your letter paper - I need space. Glad someone appreciates
a rare name -we, salt of the earth! You may be right about horse thieves -
nothing like a little flavour. I've been in Dallas. I mean original Dallas -nice small: town village in north of Scotland.
Going to Scotland again in 1985. Lovely- like Ireland -they like us, fellow Celts.
Hope you can read my bits & pieces! I go from one bit of information to another.
Old age, dear! You are the third James I wrote to, another died in San Francisco
some years ago. Widow and children still there, I imagine has sons. His
sister is Mrs. Foley, Pharmacy Bridge Street, Killorglin in County Kerry.
Did your father never mention name of a place near Cahirsiveen. I think you people
come from Ballinskelligs way. There is a Mrs. Sugrue out there (nee MacC.)
There is a police sergeant in Blarney County Cork called to see me. He is Batt MacC. and says he has two unmarried brothers out of
Ballinskelligs way (south of Cahersiveen) -last of that family in Kerry. He is married
himself. Are your crowd musical? most MacC.s seem to be. I write MAC.
Mac is sound Gaelic, and why shorten three letters to two? English probably wrote it that way when they did it at all.
Sorry! I put your letter etc., away after it came, and it only surfaced today. And
you thought that 'old woman' might have replied. We are of good stock - in fact of the best!
Cream always-rises -Mother used to say. Nice old name - on Connel, your
boy too. 'Bye I'm exhausted. So are you if you've got to here!!

Anna Fullam
P.S. This should keep your crowd quiet for a. while

2nd Page

In 1600's Mac C.s were officers in Irish Army -John Og McC., Renard raised
40 companies (in one source) to fight (you know who). Forty men in another
in list of foreiture proprietors. They owned a lot of land -bad but beautiful,
by sea and hills. (MSS in Trinity College nearby Dublin) several names of MacC's
dispossessed of lands in Leiter (castle on hill over Renard -only name "Leiter castle" left now) Renard, Surranawn, edge of Cahirsiveen town
and so on. Some sent to Clare where I find Crehans (no Mac) but I can't add them
in. I don't drive and am limited in going to find out people and information.
Tralee Library is a source -Train to there -I live in Dublin (20 miles).

Some officers went to Spain after Treaty of Limerick -1691- Spain
- married other Irish in Spain in first generation and later Spanish Senoritas (with land).
Now more MacCrohans in Madrid phone book than in Ireland - lawyers, business men, and Don Juan Ignacio, MacCrohan present head of family
owns several thousand hectares of wheat and olives in Andalusia. I know the number of hectares but don't want to give it.
Sent his daughters and sons to Ireland some years ago to learn English. After 1690 large exodus of Irish
Army to Spain -well received -entered at Vigo, Coruna and probably Bilbao straight line south from Cork and our southern ports -look at map.
They had to show six generations of decent ancestry (I have to have big sheets of paper) before getting
into Spanish armies and navy and some got to highest ranks. See enclosed and buy the book when it comes in May. James Mac in St. Helena California has it on order out in San Francisco,
and I sent name also to another James in Shrewsbury, Mass. He was in Kerry in 1983 and James (Calif.) called there six years ago or so. MacC.s were all born near sea and thought nothing of taking off to U.S.A.
They were not starving tenant emigrants after famine of 1847/48. My grandmother -Catherine
O'Sullivan MacCrohan born 1835, died 1927 (92 years) never mentioned famine to us. She lived with us always. They had best of fish from sea, own eggs, milk
and etc. They owned their land for centuries and though not like the lush fields of inland
counties (they had salt spray and Atlantic south westerly winds to contend with) they had enough and are still there.

In 1654 John Og (young) got his crowds to their boats and went to Beginis - nearby but
Cromwell's crowd were not makers of boats, and his (John O's descendants) lived in Beginis in two story houses till early this century -
when one went to Valentia Island and his sons -Daniel - who has fishing boat called Christmas Eve and a nice bungalow and wife and children -Four sons who
trained in wireless station (Western Union now closed) and who writes articles for various newspapers -mainly about football or piping. He is a piper, too.
A book published lately in Killorglin, County Kerry by local Historical Society- called Cois Learnod pronounced Kush Lhowna -meaning
- beside the Hanne- Haune river drains Killarney lakes to sea. We (MacC.s)
are mentioned - came from Rienard (sic) to Miltown -bought land -linen mills and came,
it says, in 1400. I think that's a bit early -must find out source of date.
But MacCrohan sheets were much prized. Book is five pounds or was it four, I
got present of mine -I think -I sent 10 pounds -10 Dollars with you now to Sec. Sean
O'Sullivan -Langford Street, Killorglin to send copy to California. The postage overseas from here is awful, I think but it is very
readable and you'll see your name in praising print in native country of your ancestors. You will see about Admiral MacCrohan in enclosed -look for
that book, too- it will be nearly 20 Dollars $19.95 here, I believe. Put it on coffee table and invite the Biggs
around! MacCrohans are bigger! Helen hasn't a hope. English name, I think. Since the American
wars! Order books and get brothers near Chicago - Perhaps Irish books available there.

Anna Fullam

P.S. Forgot to say MacCrohans
were smugglers (hush!) from France! Daniel MacCrohan was O'Connell's (or Derrynane) agent at Nantes.
Wool and hides went to France and guess what came back - claret and brandy and an odd silk piece for the
ladies. Which some not mentioned. Claret usual reference.